# NTSB SEA82FA015: Piper PA-28-161, N8265A, Pleasant Hill, OR, January 5, 1982

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: January 4, 1982, 16:22 local (Jan 5, 1982, 00:22 UTC)
- Place: Pleasant Hill, OR
- Coordinates: 44.060153, -123.080131 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.0602&lon=-123.0801&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 4 fatal
- Status: Completed, report January 4, 1983
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 72258
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA82FA015
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/72258/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA82FA015

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- In flight encounter with weather, cruise
  - weather condition - clouds (contributing factor)
- Loss of control - in flight, cruise
  - vfr flight into imc - continued, pilot in command (cause)
  - spatial disorientation, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of total experience, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, descent - uncontrolled
  - aircraft weight and balance - improper, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - design stress limits of aircraft - exceeded, pilot in command (cause)
  - flight control,stabilator - overload (contributing factor)
  - flight control,stabilator - separation (contributing factor)
  - wing - overload (contributing factor)
  - wing - separation (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE PLANE TOOKOFF AT 1505 PST ON A LOCAL VFR PLEASURE FLIGHT WITH 4 OCCUPANTS AND ABOUT 48 GALLONS OF FUEL ON BOARD. THE PLANE WAS ESTIMATED TO BE ABOUT 140 LBS OVER THE MAXIMUM GROSS WEIGHT LIMIT. AT ABOUT 1622 PST, IT WAS OBSERVED TO BREAK UP IN FLIGHT. SEVERAL WITNESSES REPORTED THE PLANE DIVING OUT OF A CLOUD. MOST REPORTED HEARING SOME TYPE OF EXPLOSIVE SOUND, AND MANY ALSO REPORTED HEARING A HIGH-PITCH WHINING/SCREAMING/REVVING SOUND JUST BEFORE OR AFTER BREAKUP. THE PLANE WAS ESTIMATED TO STILL BE ABOUT 63 LBS OVER THE MAXIMUM WEIGHT LIMIT WHEN IT BROKE UP. THE WRECKAGE WAS FOUND SCATTERED OVER AN AREA OF MORE THAN 1000 FT. THE HORIZONTAL STABILATORS AND VERTICAL STABILIZER HAD FAILED IN THEIR ROOT AREAS AND SEPARATED. THE RIGHT STABILATOR HAD A DOWNWARD SPANWIZE CAMBER. BOTH WINGS SEPARATED FROM THE FUSELAGE WITH THE OUTBOARD 4 FT ALSO SEPARATING. THE LEADING EDGES OF THE RIGHT AND LEFT INBOARD WING SECTIONS WERE DAMAGED AND MOLDED IN A MANNER THAT ONE CLOSELY MATCHED THE OTHER.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8265A](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8265A-2014-11-26), registration cancelled 2014-11-26, S/N 28-8116037, built 1980 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-161
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28-161](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-161) (registry code 7102803) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 288116037
- Airframe hours: 875
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-D3G 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Thomas E. Magner
- Registered owner: Dale H. Bridges
- Departed: EUGENE, OR
- Destination: EUGENE, OR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 23; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; flight hours: 117 total, 27 in this make and model, 5 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Temperature: 97 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: EUG, 15 nm away

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19820104000249A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19820104000249A), Jan 4, 1982: Piper PA28161, Pleasant Hill, OR, Destroyed, 3 fatal. Aircraft was observed spinning out of a cloud and disintegrating. Weather conditions were VMC.on the surface.

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

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